Students from Union City’s Woodrow Wilson School have been participating in the rigorous ROGATE (Resources Offered in Gifted and Talented Education) program, sponsored by the National Talent Network of Educational Information Resource Center in Mullica Hill.

In the history of Woodrow Wilson School, this year has the highest number of students aspiring for the Gold Satori.

“I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such exceptional students,” said Assistant Principal Nellie Chapman. “With the foundation that this program provides, the students are positioned to do well academically in high school and beyond.”

This year sixteen students are up for the Gold Satori Award, a distinguished award for students who have advanced through the program. As part of the eligibility process for the award, the candidates had to individually form a thesis statement, investigate, and create a research project that either proves or disproves the thesis.

The students then had to present their research paper at Montclair State University where they were judged by teachers and peers from throughout the state.

The requirements this year included the students performing volunteer work in their community in a way that uses their ROGATE research. The students also extended their research adding additional sources and completing further studies with supporting data. They also presented their project to an audience outside of the school.

Additionally, the students are required to take the SAT and score at least 510 in any one of the three categories.

The topics that Woodrow Wilson students chose to studying for the past two years reflect a variety of interests.

The students and their research subjects

Gabriel Algarin: “Teachers should be armed with firearms in order to protect students and staff.”

Dhwani Bharvad: “Are violent video games cool or cruel?”

Nancy De Leon: “Is the Internet a detriment to society?”

Nevyn Duarte: “College is necessary and worthwhile in present day economy.”

Samantha Garcia: “Age discrimination in job employment.”

Giselle Guzman: “The importance of camera surveillance in schools.”

Joel Marte: “Is cloning animals beneficial?”

Nathalee Martinez: “Minors under the age of eighteen should be tried as adults in a court of law.”

Ashley Palacio: “Laws for people with disabilities should be mandated in all buildings.”

Erika Pereira: “All elementary and secondary students should be required to wear uniforms.”

Paola Solano: “The state of New Jersey should replace standardized testing with student portfolios.”

Alexandria Suarez: “Embryonic cells: beneficial or harmful?”

Anmol Surpur: “Does homework really help?”

Students welcome the challenge

“These are topics that impact our lives in so many ways,” said Christian Flores, an eighth grader who was awarded the coveted Gold Satori last year. Christian became the first student to join the ROGATE program while in the sixth grade.

“We are fortunate to have a superintendent and a Board of Education committed to extending our students success beyond their limits,” said Ms. Chapman. “ROGATE is one the most competitive gifted programs we can offer our students.”